Category: Chinese characters

The Founders of Chinese Animation The Wan Brothers 中国动画创始人——万氏兄弟

The Wan Brothers (万氏兄弟,Wànshì xiōngdì) were born in the early 20th century in Nanjing, China. They became the founders and pioneers of the Chinese animation industry and made the first Asian animation feature-length film, Princess Iron Fan in 1941. By 1935 the Wan Brothers would launch the first animation with sound titled The Camel’s Dance.
Background
The era in which the Wan brothers operated was a very challenging one for building an industry. China would endure the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II and the Cultural Revolution. They also made the famous cartoon animation, Havoc in Heaven.
The brothers
Wan Laiming 万籁鸣 Wàn Làimíng
Wan Guchan 万古蟾 Wàn Gǔchán
Wan Chaochen 万超尘 Wàn Chāochén
Wan Dihuan 万涤寰 Wàn Díhuán

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Four Famous Dan Actors 四大名旦

生行
京剧中的"生",一般指剧中扮演男子的演员,其中又可细分为"老生"、"小生"和"武生"。"老生",顾名思义就是中老年男子角色,在剧中多扮演正直刚毅的人物形象,例如京剧《伍子胥》中的伍子胥.他们演出时要戴挂在耳朵上的假胡须,在京剧的行话中也叫"髯口",因此还专门有一套髯口上的表演功夫。胡须的颜色表示了人物的年龄。京剧《四郎探母》中的杨四郎年约三十岁,所戴胡须为黑色。京剧《秦香莲》中王延龄年约六十,所戴胡须为白色。老生在剧中一般注重演唱和细腻表演,唱腔上也最为丰富。台词用京剧中的韵白来表现,演唱用真声,风格刚劲、挺拔、质朴、醇厚,动作造型也以雍容、端方、庄重为基调。与老生相对应的是"小生",在京剧中指青少年男子角色,他们在剧中的动作造型儒雅倜傥、秀逸飞动。在演唱上采用真假声结合的唱法,演唱风格华美和明亮。例如京剧《白蛇传》中的许仙"武生"是指扮演剧中年轻的男性武将,他们用高超的武打技术来展示剧中人物的武艺高强。不重演唱,注重武打动作的娴熟和技巧的难度。例如京剧《长坂坡》中的赵云.Role of Sheng

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